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Creamy coconut milk ice cream is richly loaded with vanilla bean flavor and just happens to be dairy free and fully vegan. It’s insanely easy to make, too!

ice cream made with coconut milk in little white bowl next to red napkin

Coconut Milk Ice Cream

I’ve made this very simple coconut ice cream numerous times and it is worlds better than most commercially available dairy-free ice cream.

This ice cream is fantastic on its own, but as is the case with most ice cream, with fresh strawberries or homemade chocolate syrup it is even better.

Coconut ice cream topped with chocolate sauce

Coconut Milk Ice Cream Recipe

To make this ice cream, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Coconut milk
Sugar
Kosher Salt
Vanilla Beans, Vanilla Extract, or Vanilla Paste

It’s important to note that this recipe requires full fat coconut milk. You cannot get the same results from lite, or low, or reduced-fat coconut milk. I use Thai Kitchen’s unsweetened coconut milk.

close up of vanilla bean coconut ice cream with scoop

In a small saucepan, whisk together the milk, sugar, salt. Slit the vanilla beans lengthwise and scrape out the seeds.

Add the vanilla to the pan. Bring almost to a boil and barely simmer for a few minutes, just until the sugar is dissolved.

Do not skip the heating step. You will end up with clumpy ice cream. Let cool and then chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions. When finished churning, serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and place in the freezer until ready to eat.

Coconut Ice Cream

If you’re a fan of coconut milk ice creams, you’re going to love all of these! Creamy raspberry coconut ice cream is filled with fresh berries. It is so easy to make, and so much fun to eat, you’re going to be making it all summer long.

All the fun flavors of a Pina Colada in a bowl of ice cream? Yes, please! Fresh pineapple + toasted coconut = an abundance of flavor in each scoop of pina colada ice cream.

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Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Mary Younkin

Creamy coconut milk ice cream is richly loaded with vanilla bean flavor and just happens to be dairy free and fully vegan!

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Chill time: 4

Total Time: 4 15

Servings:

Ingredients

▢ 26 ounces canned Thai coconut milk (2) cans worth
▢ ¾ cup sugar
▢ ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
▢ 2 vanilla beans OR 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or paste

Instructions

In a small saucepan, whisk together the milk, sugar, salt. Slit the vanilla beans lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Add the vanilla to the pan. Bring almost to a boil and barely simmer for a few minutes, just until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool and then chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's directions. When finished churning, serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and place in the freezer until ready to eat.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment below!

{originally published 6/12/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 11/22/24}

coconut milk ice cream in little bowl with gold spoon

Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Ice Cream